Tis the season
Holiday sale in Lynchburg Nov. 7
Not everyone has a knack for recognizing a need, envisioning a creative solution and following through with it. But Vintage Lynchburg founders Leah Wiebe and Kelly Pittman are among those who not only see, but know how a little creativity can change a space and shape a community.
In 2012, Wiebe and Pittman wanted to showcase their own handmade goods. They found, however, there was no place for them to do so.
“At the time, it was very rare to have a place where these people who maybe did this on the side, had an Etsy shop or had a little business out of their home,” Wiebe said, “(But) they didn’t have a store front, they maybe had kids, and it was a part time thing and they didn’t have a place to showcase their items.”
This led them to the idea of Vintage Lynchburg. What started as just a couple vendors and shoppers has grown into an event of more than 90 local vendors and 3,000 shoppers.
For the past three months, Wiebe and Pittman have been gearing up for their 7th annual Vintage Lynchburg Holiday Sale. The sale is a unique event in which artisans and vendors from the local area can come together and showcase their wares for the enjoyment of the community.
Saturday, Nov. 7, is the date for this year’s Holiday Sale at the Urban Arts Garage on 10th and Commerce Street. The various vendors will offer a wide collection of goods including home decor, jewelry, clothing, art, furniture, antiques and handmade goods.
“(Vintage Lynchburg is) good for the vendors and it’s good for the community,” Wiebe said. “I just think it’s a neat pairing. The vendors want to showcase it and the community wants to come see and shop and experience.”
Wiebe and Pittman both have a passion for giving back to those who are doing good in the community, and donate a third of the proceeds from ticket sales to a local non-profit organization. This year, donations will benefit the Motherhood Collective.
“This group is doing some really neat things in the community (by) trying to educate and support women and care for them through infertility and postpartum depression and through the ups and the downs of the motherhood process,” Wiebe said.
In addition to supporting local artisans, entrepreneurs and the community, Wiebe and Pittman also want Vintage Lynchburg to have a social element for people to enjoy. The Holiday Sale will have live music, food trucks, a free photo booth, balloons for kids and a vintage fashion show presented by The Clutch Guide. Opera on the James will also be performing random acts of culture throughout the event, so guests can expect serenades and performances as they peruse the booths.
“I think one of the things that makes Vintage Lynchburg unique is the time and effort that not only Leah and I put into it, but I think our vendors as well, as far as the looks and aesthetics of it,” Pittman said.
In celebration of the approaching holiday season, Christmas lights will be strung throughout the space and shoppers are encouraged to wear their favorite Christmas sweaters. Volunteers will be walking around and handing out gift certificates from the vendors to the shoppers wearing their sweaters. The recipients can then take the certificates to the vendor’s booth and pick out an item.
The Holiday Sale provides a great opportunity to find the perfect gift, especially with the Christmas season just around the corner. Whether it be for a friend, family member, that special someone, or even a family pet, the Holiday Sale will have something to suit each shopper’s need.
Tickets for the Holiday Sale are available at the door for $3, cash only. A limited number of early bird tickets are available online at www.vintagelynchburg.com for $10. These tickets would allow shoppers to pre-shop for an hour before the crowds start filling in. Doors will be open for regular admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Laforest is a feature reporter.